Agencies offer income-tax preparation help

With the April 15 deadline rapidly approaching, many Perry County residents may be scrambling to figure out how to not only get their tax forms prepared, but how to pay for them.

The Perry County Literacy Council, 232 Market St., Newport, is offering to prepare taxes for free. Volunteers from the Community Action Commission will assist residents in preparing their taxes. Volunteers are in Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. until the end of tax season. Preparations will be done by appointment only.

According to Literacy Council office manager Nicole Markle, the council has been taking appointments since the first week of February. While Perry County residents are the primary recipients of help, Markle said the four volunteers have been assisting some Juniata County residents.

Markle said appointments have been filling up fast. Low-income residents between the ages of 25-64 will have priority; business owners and owners of rental properties will not be assisted. Residents interested in scheduling an appointment may call the Literacy Council at 567-7323.

Seniors may be able to have their taxes done at the Central Perry Senior Center, 225 West Main St., New Bloomfield. Harry Fuller, site coordinator for the American Association of Retired Persons Tax Aide-sponsored program, said seniors ages 60 and above are the primary recipients of help, and the center does assist others on low incomes.

Fuller said taxes are done by appointment only. "We do four to five returns an hour and 16 to 20 a day.'

Appointments are on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information or to schedule an appointment, readers may contact the senior center at 582-4508.